Infant&#39;s diaper substitute or the like



Jan. 13, 1953 E. G. MAXIM 2,625,150

INFANT'S DIAPERSUBSTITUTE OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 10, 1952 Murmur INVEN TOR. [0914490 6 Mqx/M ywwmmo Afro/ave Y5 Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES ATE NT OFFICE INFANTS DIAPER SUBSTITUTE 'OR THE LIKE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to sanitary 'devices, especially to a device which is particularly suitable for use as an infants diaper substitute -or replacement, or as a waste receptacle 'for use by bed-ridden adults, or others.

Various types of bed pans have been provided in the past for use by invalids for the passage of waste materials. All of such devices, insofar as I am aware, have been unsatisfactory in that they-cause appreciable discomfort to the invalid and it is difficult to get the invalid onto and off of such devices.

Some grown persons, such as paralyzed people, also :have problems regarding collection and disposal of their waste materials. Again, efforts have been made to solve the problems of these people butnone of the articles available for such use have been comfortable to wear, have been easily positioned in sealing engagement with a wearer, or .have been objectionable for other reasons, in accordance with my understanding and knowledge of such articles.

"Of course, infants wear diapers for the collection of infants waste products. Such diapers require frequent changing and very careful wash- .ing and sterilizing before being used again. The

labor involved :in caring for them 'is a heavy burden on those charged with the care of the child.

The changing of the diapers, and the cleaning of diapers take a great deal of time so that the person caring for an infant necessarily spends a great amount of time merely changing diapers on the infant and then cleaning the diapers. In addition to the other problems involved in the use of diapers, it is a well known fact that even though persons caring for infants endeavor to change the diapers frequently, still infants in many instances suffer burns and other discomforts from intimate exposure to and contact with secretions which are retained in the diaper.

Some efforts have been made to provide diapers with removable lining materials wherein the liner is only used once and then .is discarded. However, such types of articles have not been completely satisfactory :in the service that they have performed ::and they still are objectionable in that they retain the :infants secretions 'in intimate and direct contact with the tender skin of the infant. Furthermore, some efforts have been made to provide receptacles which are to be secured to the infant for receipt of the infants secretions. However, all such devices known to me :are of .a relatively complicated nature so that they would :be too difficult to clean and to manufacture and also would be quitecostly.

a diaper substitute which is formed from a minimum of resilient parts which can readily be secured together in operative relationship, or which can .be cast from latex to provide a completely unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a diaper replacement which is inexpensive but sturdy and which can be secured to the infant in any desired manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a waste receptacle adapted to be worn by an infant or other .person wherein the receptacle does not hinder passage of waste thereto from the person wearing such a device but prevents return flow-ormovement of the waste secretions from the receptacle back into contact with the person wearing the device.

The foregoing and other objects and advantagesof the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the present invention attention is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein one best known embodiment of the invention .is illustrated, and wherein:

l is a plan view of a waste receptacle or diaper replacement uni-t embodying the principles of the invention and especially adapted for use by a :male.

Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of the diaper replacement unit of Fig. 1 taken on line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is :a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form of the receptacle of the invention.

In order to understand the details of the present invention, reference is made to the details of the structure hown in the drawings and wherein a waste receptacle 1 is shown. This waste receptacle is illustrated as having support straps 3 which are usually integral with the receptacle and which may be adjustably engaged with lower portions of a support harness or similar member by any conventional means, such as buttons 3 to be snugly secured to a wearer by such support (not .shown).

The waste receptacle 1 primarily comprises a relatively elongate "hollow 'body 4 that is adapted to receive waste matter from the person wearing the receptacle. This body 4 normally is made in the form of a flexible and resilient unit which normally would be molded from rubber, rubberlike material, or other plastic material, or be cast from a rubber latex liquid. Hence the material forming the body 4 would not normally be subjected to attack by the waste secretions received therein and the receptacle would be adapted to have a long, effective service life. Normally the body 4 is provided with an integral top 5. As an important feature of the invention, the top 5 is contoured to fit in sealing relation with the crotch of a person wearing the waste receptacle I. The top 5 is also varied with the sex of the intended wearer of the article to provide a comfortable fit and to aid in maintaining the body 4 sealed. Thus a deep, narrow, flexible pocket 6 is provided in the top 5 at the front part of the body 4 and it is adapted to receive the penis of the wearer. The bottom of the pocket 6 has an X-shaped slit 1' therein to permit flow of liquid therethrough into the interior of the body 4. The pocket 6 has a bottom that is of concave shape on its upper surface and convex on its lower surface so that any back pressure set up on the lower surface of the pocket 6 by material or even air in the body 4 trying to flow back into the pocket 6 will urge the slit 1 to a closed position. Note also a second wider, shallower pocket 8 provided in the too 5 immediately behind the pocket 5 for receiving the testicles of the wearer.

Yet another important part of the top 5 is that an upstanding resilient, endless flange 9 of oval c ntour is provided for sealing engagement with the anus of the wearer.

A salient feature of the present invention resides in a clam type seal and its relation to the flange 9 to form a releasable or deflectable seal for same. The clam ty e of seal includes a pair of inwardly and downwardly extending resilient sheets or lips I0 and Ii. The sheets Iii and II are inte ral with the remainder of the top. However, while united in tubular form at their tops, the sheets I 0 and H at their lower ends are so contoured as to provide inwardly and downwardly turned portions which terminate in sections which resiliently lie flush against each other adjacent the lower portions of the sheets. It will be noted that the sheets in and ii terminate in appreciably spaced relation to the bottom of the body l3. That is, the sheets I I] and II can extend downwardly of the body 4 any desired distance but normally should be appreciably above the bottom of same, as shown in Fig. 2, so that any waste matter passing down between the sheets would not be retained in association therewith but would merely be in the closed portion of the body 4 formed by the top 5. It will be realized that the resilient sheets It and II can be and are readily movable from their flush relationship so that any liquid or solid waste matter passed could readily spread apart the sheets in and H and pass between same down into the body 4 for retention therein. Thus even though the infant or person wearing the receptacle 1 of the invention would be lying down, the waste It will be appreciated that the upper surfaces of the receptacle l are of generally concave shape so that such surfaces are adapted to the general '4 contour of the crotch. Of course, the size of the receptacle would be varied as desired.

To facilitate cleaning and emptying the receptacle I, a drain plug i2 is removably engaged in a suitable manner with a bottom end portion thereof. The plug 12 may be engaged with the receptacle in any conventional manner and its removal will permit ready passage of cleaning water through the receptacle.

,It will be realized that the sheets l0 and I! should be readily deflectable by force applied to the adjacent surfaces thereof so that they may be quite thin. Also, the material forming the 'body 4 may be quite thin, if desired.

Note that the pocket 6 has dependent edges or flaps provided at the margins of the slit 7 which flaps are shaped to be normally resiliently pressed together to aid in sealing same against back flow of material therethrough. The sheets iii and H have similar flaps thereon.

The receptacle is of such length to extend appreciably to the rear of the rectum of the person wearing same to facilitate the reception of waste therein even if the person wearing same is lying down.

It will be seen that the receptacle unit of the invention, when assembled, is particularly adapted to conform closely to the contour of the person wearing such a device. Hence the base of the receptacle l is of more or less dumbbell shape in contour, as indicated in Fig. 1. Also, when a person wearing the device of the invention turns on his side, the external pressure applied to the sides sets up an air pressure within the device which in turn presses the sheets l0 and H closely together and seals the device.

When manufacturing the device, it may be possible to manufacture the entire unit as one molded, vulcanized assembly, but preferably the receptacle is made by casting latex. However, usually the receptacle can be made up of several different sections which are assembled together in a conventional manner.

A modified waste receptacle 2!) for use by females is shown in Fig. 4. This receptacle 20 has a flexible body 2! with a top 22 that usually would be cemented or otherwise suitably secured thereto. The top has two continuous oval shaped upstanding flanges 23 and 24 formed integrally therewith for resilient engagement with the anus and end of the urethra of the person wearing the receptacle. These flanges 23 and 24 have downwardly extending resilient lips, sheets or tubes 25 and 25, respectively, integrally extending therefrom. Each of the sheets 25 or 26 is similar to the pair of sheets 16 and H previously referred to herein and they function in a similar manner. Hence, waste can easily pass down through the sheets 25 or 26 but the resilient lower ends of the sheets are normally closed but can be separated for passage of waste therethrough.

It will be realized that any suitable rubber or rubber-like material may be used in making the waste receptacles of the invention. The tops, if made separately, can be conventionally engaged with the remainders of the receptacle so that a soft, resilient, flexible but durable structure is provided.

By use of the special flanges 9, 23 and 2d and their relation to the remaining parts of the tops of the receptacles, an effective sealing contact can be secured with th crotch area. The sheets 10 and II aid in providing a resilient upper edge on the flange 9. If desired, short dependent aoasuco sealin sheets or strips may extend downwardly of the slit I at the edges thereof to seal same by resilient contact of such strips like the sheets and H. The lower edges of the sheets l0 and l l and similar members may be feathered to aid in the sealing action thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 98,329, now abancloned.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modifications of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A waste receptacle for babies or adults comprising a fiexibl soft body, and a flexible soft top closing said body, said top having a soft flexible continuous rubber flange of oval shape protruding upwardly therefrom for resilient sealing engagement with a crotch portion of a person wearin the receptacle, and a tubular rubber sheet formed integrally with said flange and extending downwardly therefrom internally thereof, the lower portion of said sheet being of flat cross section with opposed portions thereof in resilient contact.

2. A waste receptacle for babies 01' adults comprising a flexible soft rubber body, and a flexible soft rubber top secured to and closin said body, said top having a soft flexible continuous flange of oval shape protruding upwardly therefrom for resilient sealing engagement with a crotch portion of a person wearing the receptacle, and a clam type seal device formed integrally with said flange and including rubber sheets extending downwardly from said flange and terminating in an open lower end with the sheets being in resilient sealing engagement adjacent the open end.

3. A waste receptacle for babies or adults comprising a flexible soft hollow body, and a flexible soft top carried by and closing said body, said top having a soft flexible continuous flange of oval shape protruding upwardly therefrom for resilient sealing engagement with a crotch portion of a person wearing the receptacle, and seal means formed integrally with said flange and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom to terminate in an open lower end.

4. A Waste receptacle comprising a flexible elongate receptacle body having an open top, and a top closing said receptacle body, said top having a pair of upstanding oval shaped resilient flanges at longitudinally spaced portions thereof formed integrally with said top, and seal means extending inwardly and downwardly of said flanges with 6 lower portions which are normally flush against each other but readily movable apart for passage of waste downwardly therethrough.

5. A waste receptacle comprising a flexible elongate receptacle body having an open top, and a top including a clam type seal device positioned on the upper portion of and closing the top of said receptacle body, said seal device being resilient and including a pair of inwardly and downwardly extending rubber sheets the lower portions of which are normally flush against each other but readily movable apart for passage of waste downwardly therethrough, said sheets terminating in appreciably spaced relation to the bottom of said receptacle body, said top also having an upstanding oval shaped flange encompassing the upper end of said seal device and formed integrally with said sheets and said top, said top having pocket means therein for receiving the genitals of a wearer.

6. A waste receptacle comprising a flexible elongate receptacle body having an open top, removable drain plug means secured to a, bottom portion of said receptacle, and a top including a clam type seal device on the upper portion of and closing the top of said receptacle body, said seal device being resilient and including a pair of inwardly and downwardly extending rubber sheets the lower portions of which are normally flush against each other but readily movable apart for passage of waste downwardly therethrough, said sheets terminating in appreciably spaced relation to the bottom of said receptacle body, said top also having an upstanding oval shaped flange encompassing the upper end of said seal device and formed integrally with said sheets and said top.

7. A waste receptacle as in claim 3 adapted for use by males wherein a narrow deep pocket is provided in an end portion of said top for reception of a wearers penis, which pocket has an X-shaped drain slit in a downwardly curved bottom portion thereof, and a second larger and shallower pocket is provided in said top intermediate said fiange and said deep pocket for re-v ception of the wearer's testicles whereby a sealing engagement between the top portion of the waste receptacle and the wearer thereof can be obtained.

8. A waste receptacle as in claim 1 adapted for use by males wherein a narrow deep pocket is provided in an end portion of said top for reception of a wearer's penis, which pocket has an X-shaped drain slit in a downwardly curved bottom portion thereof.

EDWARD G. MAXIM.

No references cited. 

